[Closed] Patrol With The Bull

[skyward_eyes]

WHO: Nida
WHERE: South Village Fountain, Around Town
WHEN: Evening 12/16
OPEN TO: Iron Bull
WARNINGS: Discussions of sexual situations, sexual content, NSFW

---

Until now Nida had mostly been doing his rounds of the village on 'patrol' solo. There just hadn't been enough sign-ups before this, and with the hours he did his walks there didn't seem to be as much overlap. Part of that was because Nida wasn't the best at handling the cold. Even now, being out at night was a bit much for him, and he'd bundled himself up in just about everything he had at hand for warmth, taken one of the practice bōs he'd made for himself---not that he'd want to use it because of how flimsy the soft wood he'd managed---so he'd be armed. Once that was done he'd shouted out to the house where he was going and with who, just in case Rinoa or Seifer had slipped in and would care, before heading out to walk toward the fountain.

Time to meet the 'boss'.
 

Comments

[ataashihunter]

Bull was bundled up himself, as much as he could with the horns. He is wearing his heavy coat. Strapped to his back is a giant axe. He smiles as he comes close. Tall isn't really describing it. He is well over seven feet and that is not even counting the horns. He is also broad to match.

"You're Nida?"

[skyward_eyes]

When Zevran had jokingly said that Nida might faint over the man's physique, Nida had mostly laughed it off to himself, but now... Well, now Nida put on a smile and focused because that was what you did when you were busy working. He'd probably send Zevran a message later, grumbling at him for putting such thoughts in his head. Granted they had been entertaining at the time.

"I am. You'd be the Iron Bull then. Estimates on your height were a bit short. And the description of your horns definitely insufficient."

With that he offered a hand to shake, all while eyeing that axe. Impressive.

[ataashihunter]

"That they are, they quite handy." He grins and takes the hand to shake it, getting a little closer. "So, you are ready to deal with me?" He grins and nods towards the path out of town. "I usually go around the place, checking the perimeter first."

[skyward_eyes]

Zevran would seem to think so, Nida agreed, but he didn't actually put the thought out there. It wouldn't be appropriate.

Once the shake was done Nida took a step back, just to renew appropriate distances. Clearly they'd both need some room if weapons had to come into play. Better to have that space established now.

"Yes sir," Nida agreed with a smile. "I tend to do the same. I typically go clockwise one day and counterclockwise the next. Sometimes a different angle helps."

[ataashihunter]

"Smart thinking." Bull smiles, looks and brains, this kid is growing on him. "You got any other areas you like to give special attention?" He lets the other establish the distance and then starts walking, his eyes only returning to Nida every so often.

[skyward_eyes]

Well, at least he could prove himself intelligent this way, and forward thinking. Nida rolled his shoulders as if to bring Bull's attention to the pack on his back.

"It occurred to me that while people are clearly thinking about stockpiling wood and the like, there isn't as much discussion on the ready storage of suitable tinder. So I keep my eyes out for small twigs and branches, even dead leaves. I dry them out in my basement and use them to start fires. Deliver some to the inn for the fireplace when I take loads of wood there. Helps keep my mind a bit more attentive when I'm looking further out."

Part of patrolling was being able to focus on nothing and everything at once, and when there was no motion to speak of, that sort of process could easily be harnessed for other ends.

[ataashihunter]

Bill looks at him, nodding. The kid really does have brains. "Good plan, especially if we can find wants to make it even more flammable. Like beeswax. And I am sure Bobo would like punkwood for the smokehouse. Though I believe it makes for a good tinder as well."

[skyward_eyes]

"Could always use feathers. Those things burn like no one's business," Nida smirked. He'd made use of that with fire spells in the past. But that didn't change the fact that they no doubt needed feathers for other things.

Punkwood? Nida had no idea what that was, but he'd accept it.

"Explain punkwood to me, I'll keep my eye out for that too. Oh, one other thing. I keep my eyes open as I walk, just a bit into the doors, for more than just motion. Fallen trees that will be easier to process for fire wood, and smaller saplings suited to hafts for weapons. Granted not always the best quality wood for it, and it's a bit sparse this close to the edge because the village has worked it, but..."

You've got to do something to keep yourself focused and sharp on patrol. Something Bull would of course know well.

[ataashihunter]

"I don't think I have tried that. Any specific kind of feathers?" He smiles slightly. "Half-rotted wood, you know the kind that kind of falls apart when you try to pick it up or you can break it apart with your hands? It tends to make a lot of smoke so it is good for smoking meats."

Bull nods, he gets that and he agrees. And he is happy Nida knows this too and Bull doesn't have to explain it to him.

[skyward_eyes]

“Smoked meat... definitely a good idea,” he grins. “I don’t have nearly enough meat in my diet. This time of year is more about sausages, salamis. I could go for one now.”

No intended meaning, just observation. The only issue right now is trying to keep up to Bull. That is really difficult with his stride.

[ataashihunter]

"I know a few ways you can get more meat in your diet." Bull purrs under his breath. A nice thick salami when you think about it.

"Maybe we should see if we can get more hunting parties going."

[skyward_eyes]

"Protein makes a body strong," Nida agreed. "And the fat is vital for winter survival."

Yep, the young man really doesn't know what is going on, but he's positive anyway. Good at that. More hunting parties seemed right too. Which reminded him...

"I heard you took down a massive boar. Is that true? If I had a nice partisan with a long cross guard partway up..."

He'd love to hunt boar. Close to a real challenge of monster.

[ataashihunter]

"Yeah, it was attacking Altair. Between his daggers and my axe we managed to take it down. But it almost got me. It was really cool, it's tusk was ripping up the inside of my thigh and then suddenly my skin went all hard like armour. That really saved my life."

[skyward_eyes]

“Oh that is c... wait, what?”  Nida pauses to look at the large man, utterly shocked by what he had heard. Skin like armor? That didn’t make a lick of sense. And celebrating a wound that bad made no sense. 

[ataashihunter]

"Yeah. So qunari has this war paint we use that reacts with our skin and turns it hard like armour, it is toxic to humans and elves though. And it felt like that. But I wasn't wearing any."

[skyward_eyes]

Paint that reacts with their skin to make it tougher. Nida would have called that odd except he knew it wasn’t necessarily any odder than ‘magical spirits that eat memories who use other magic to make your skin harder’. To the point where most SeeDs chose to forego armor.

“And it just... happened? In danger and poof skin like steel or something? Sounds useful. So does taking down a boar. Thing I miss most about home is hunting down large ‘animals’, such as they were. Wonder if boar is as tasty eating as behemoth. The last wild one on my world died around... thirty years ago or something? I have read about them and the kind of spears people used to hunt them but well...”

[ataashihunter]

"Yeah that is pretty much exactly what happened. I haven't tried it again afterwards so I am not sure if that was a fluke or not, but you're right, a boar would last us a while. Especially if Bobo cures some of the meat. We could ask Tony to make you a spear, he might know more about what kind would be the best one."

[skyward_eyes]

"There's a specialized spear for boars."

That much Nida knew because he didn't really like the idea of it. It wasn't practical in a fight, but not all polearms had to be.

"You use a shorter, heavier stave, a short thin head too, but more like a spear head. Razor sharp of course. And just behind the spearhead by, maybe an inch, you have two protruding wings. That's to keep the boar from running up the spear and goring the hunter. And of course you have to wrap the grip parts with good leather because if you lose your grip..."

Dead.

[ataashihunter]

Bull listens and nods through it. "Sounds like it would be useful when you're fighting one yeah. We should ask him and then go hunting. We are still a long way from summer" and with that any chance to harvest more food.

[skyward_eyes]

"And there's nothing like good meat to get you through a winter," Nida agreed. He'd love it. There's something lost when you aren't pitting yourself against nature.

Life almost feels less important given that lack of putting his life at risk.

[ataashihunter]

Bull grins and looks at him. "You know if it is a way to get through a winter you're looking for I got a couple of ideas." He licks his lips. "At least they'll chase the boredom away."

Timing is not a think Nida's succeeding in at the moment.

[skyward_eyes]

"Oh?" Nida asks, and he does turn to look at Bull, but not soon enough to see him lick his lips.

He full on turns around and walks backwards, fully confident that he won't trip, so he can look at Bull.

"I have a lot of problems with the idea of a boring winter. I've spent almost all of my life in tropical climates. You know, except when work called me to winter ball season in Deling. Miserable. But I got free tuxes. That was nice."

[ataashihunter]

Bull raises an eyebrow, is this guy really not getting that he is being flirted with? Or is Bull's game slacking? Somehow he doubts it is the second.

"Same, jungles to be precise. But I've learned that a boring winter is best spent with company in bed. You can have fun and stay warm all at once. Not to mention stay in shape." He pauses for effect. Then decides to make it really obvious. "You can always hit me up if that is up your alley."

[skyward_eyes]

A lot happens at once. First, Nida's eyes go wide because, holy fuck that was a thing that was just said. And with that bluntness that Nida had experienced a few times back home when he was being particularly dense about someone hitting on him. Second, he failed to stop walking backwards.

Third?

He tripped over a rock. Inelegant, embarrassing, and potentially painful. Except, of course, what good trained warrior didn't have some muscle memory to work with. The fall turned into a quick cartwheel was it sad he'd tripped enough that he had to develop muscle-memory catches for when he had a polearm on his back and came to his feet again staring at Bull.

Note to self: stop tripping in front of people. Geez.

"Okay, just to make sure there isn't any cultural miscommunication here, because I've run into a few with the other person from Thedas I've met, did you just suggest sex? And if so know that yeah, I'd take you up on that. Just because a guy should never turn down a possible once in a lifetime experience like having a Qunari keep him warm and well exercised."

[ataashihunter]

Bull can't help but chuckle at Nida's reactions and he is on his way closer to offer a hand when the cartwheel happens and Nida's on his feet again. Ne nods at what the other says.

"Yeah, that is pretty much exactly what I am suggesting." He smiles and then moves to clarify. "I like sex and the more the merrier if you ask me. I am not exclusive or anything and being friends is more important to me." There, now that is out there before any feelings get hurt.

"I'd do more than just keep you warm and exercised though if that is what you want. Satisfied is the word I'd use."